Fabric batcher

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed to a fabric batcher having a pair of horizontal winding rolls and a laterally adjustable core magazine positioned thereover. The winding rolls are automatically stopped each time a filled batch is removed and an empty core is automatically released from the magazine. A trough receives the filled batch and a fabric cutter is positioned between the trough and the winding rolls. The fabric cutter is effective to restart the winding rolls after each cutting operation and also activates an air blast to blow the severed leading edge of the fabric into engagement with the empty core.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Frank Catallo Elmont; DonaldForeman, Scarsdale, NY. [21] Appl. No. 759,135 [22] Filed Sept. 11,1968[45] Patented Jan. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee Fab-Con Machinery DevelopmentCorporation Paterson, NJ. a corporation of New Jersey [54] FABRICBATCHER 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 242/56, 242/66 51 Int. Cl B65h 19/20 [50] Field of Search242/56, 56.2, 56.6, 65, 66, 67.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,986,680 -1/1935 Marcallus242/66X 2,364,888 12/1944 Aycock 242/66X 2,599,942 6/1952 Roen 242/56Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Assistant Examiner-Werner H.Schroeder Attorney-F. J. Pisarra ABSTRACT: This invention is directed toa fabric batcher having a pair of horizontal winding rolls and alaterally adjustable core magazine positioned thereover. The windingrolls are automatically stopped each time a filled batch is removed andan empty core is automatically released from the magazine A troughreceives the filled batch and a fabric cutter is positioned between thetrough and the winding rolls. The fabric cutter is effective to restartthe winding rolls after each cutting operation and also activates an airblast to blow the severed leading edge of the fabric into engagementwith the empty core.

PATENTED JANI 9 [an I SHEET 2 (1F 3 I NVEN T 0R5 FRANK CATALLO 1 DONALDFOREMAN ATTORNEY PATENTEB mu 91911 $556,424 sum BM 3 INVENTORS 4 FRANKCATALLO DONALD FOREMAN a hni. 27 ATTORNEY FABRIC BATCHER THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to new and useful improvements inwinding and reeling equipment and particularly seeks to provide asimple, inexpensive semiautomatic machine for batching relatively smalldiameter rolls of fabric from a continuously supplied fabric web.

The current trend in many portions of the textile industry is toward thecontinuous or near continuous production and finishing of the goods,whether knitted or woven. In many instances this requires the use ofhigh-speed automatic, complicated and expensive batching equipment inwhich the continuously travelling fabric web emerging from a processingmachine or a range of synchronized processing machines, must becontinuously batched or wound into rolls containing a predeterminedlength of fabric or of a predetermined diameter, after which the webmust be severed and its lead end automatically transferred to a new corewhich also must be automatically positioned at the winding station. Anyweb speed in excess of a very few hundred feet per minute requires thistype of automatic equipment. HOwever, the batching of knit fabrics atlinear speeds on the order of 75 yards per minute does not require orwarrant the investment in such expensive and complicated fully automaticbatchers, although the batching should be able to be effected withouteither slowing or stopping the processing machines from which the fabricto be batched emerges.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a novel fabricbatcher particularly suitable for use in connection with processingmachines that continuously operate at moderate linear speeds.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fabric batcher of thecharacter stated that includes a two-roll drum or surface windernormally operating at a surface speed substantially equal to the linealoutput speed from an associated fabric-processing machine butperiodically stoppable to permit the removal of a fabric batch withoutnecessitating either the slowing down or stopping the associatedprocessing machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fabric batcher of thecharacter stated that includes a storage compartment to receive andtemporarily retain the continuously advancing fabric each time thesurface winder is stopped for removal of a roll of batched fabric andfurther includes a speedup drive for taking up the stored fabric eachtime a new roll is batched.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fabric batcher of thecharacter stated that includes a receiving trough for each completedfabric batch and a manually operated cutoff knife interposed between thetrough and the surface winder for severing thefabric.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fabric batcher of thecharacter stated that includes a magazine for mandrel-mounted cores andrelease mechanisms to cause a core to be dropped into winding positioneach time a new fabric batch is to be wound.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fabric batcher of thecharacter stated that includes an intermittently operable air blast fortransferring the severed lead end of the fabric web into windingengagement with each freshly supplied core.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fabric batcher of thecharacter stated that is simple in design, rugged in construction andeconomical to manufacture.

With these and other objects, the nature of which will be apparent, theinvention will be more fully understood by reference to the drawings,the accompanying detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation, looking toward the delivery end, of a fabricbatcher constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken along line 2-2of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail side elevation taken along line3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along line 4-4 of FIG.1',

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken along 55 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail. the invention. as illustrated, isembodied in a fabric batcher that includes a pair of spaced parallelside frames 5,5 between which are journaled a pair of horizontallyspaced parallel winder rolls 6,6 adapted to be driven in the samedirection of rotation from a drive unit 7 through an electric clutch 8and sprocket and chain means 9 for normal speed operation or through anelectric clutch 10 and sprocket and chain means 11 for a somewhat higherspeed operation.

A core magazine, generally indicated 12, which is adjustable both to itslateral position and to its width, is supported on a pair ofhorizontally spaced parallel rods or tubes 13,13 extending transverselybetween the side frames 5,5 and includes a pair of generally C-shapedsideplates 14,14 slidable mounted on the rods 13. Opposed sleeves 15,15and clamps 16,16 are provided adjacent the lower ends of the sideplates14 for preventing lateral sway of the sideplates and for clamping theminto position at any desired location along the rods 13.

The sideplates l4 carry a pair of upwardly extending symmetricallyopposed channels 17,17 that are adapted to receive and retain a supplyof empty cores 18 each of which is mounted on a freely removable mandrel19.

The under face of each channel 17 is provided with a detent lug 20pivotally mounted thereon and adapted to be oscillated into and out of aslot in the channel face by an air cylinder 21 each time a fresh core 18is to be dropped into engagement with the winder rolls 6 to start a newfabric batch.

In further accordance with this invention, means are pro vided toautomatically stop the winding rolls 6 each time a filled batch is to beremoved in order to allow time to sever the fabric and pass the freesevered end into engagement around a fresh core 18 that has beenreleased from the magazine 12. To this end an abutment or trigger plate,generally indicated 22 (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 4), is pivotally mounted onone of the magazine sideplates 14 with its inner edge portion 23positioned across the path of travel of a roll mandrel 19 after thefabric batch has wound to its desired diameter. It will be understoodthat the vertical length of the inner edge portion 23 must be sufficientto span the full range of paths of travel of the mandrels from minimumto maximum diameters of the fabric batches. The outer edge portion 24 ofthe plate 22 serves as an abutment for contacting the actuating elementof a microswitch 25. A pair of torsion springs 26,26 resiliently biasthe inner edge 23 of the plate 22 toward its associated channel 17. Whena filled batch is manually removed laterally from the winder rolls 6,6its mandrel 19 will engage the inner edge portion 23 of the plate 22 andforce the plate to oscillate about its pivot, thus actuating themicroswitch 25 to stop the winder rolls 6,6 and to cause a suitablyinstalled solenoid valve (not shown) to actuate the air cylinder 21 andpermit a fresh (empty) mandrel and core to slide down the channels 17,17into engagement with the fabric resting on the stopped winding rolls.

As indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings each filled batch is simplyrolled off from the winding rolls 6,6, across a cutter track, generallyindicated 27, and into a receiving trough 28 from which it is removedafter the trailing fabric has been severed as will be hereinafter morefully described.

The cutter track 27 includes a box girder 29 extending transverselybetween the frames 5,5 and tilted 45 about its longitudinal axis. Theupper face of the girder is slotted to receive a pair of angle bars30,30 having spaced parallel outwardly projecting flanges 31,31 whichtogether define a fabric-tensioning rail. A fabric cutter, generallyindicated 32,

is adapted to be manually reciprocated along the cutter track 27 andincludes a central supporting plate 33 provided at its right end (asview in FIG. 6) with a generally V-shaped throat 34, the vee of which iscoplanar with the outer edges of the flanges 31. A cutting blade 35 isremovable clamped to the plate 33 adjacent to the vee of the throat 34.The plate 33 rotatably carries two sets of outer wheels 36,36 which spanthe flanges 31,31 and two sets of inner wheels 37,37 adapted to engagethe inner face of the associated slotted web of the box girder 29. Ahandle'38 extends upwardly from the plate 33 for operation of thecutter.

The initial position of the cutter 32 is at the extreme left, as viewedin FIG. 1 of the drawings in order to provide clearance for the rolledfabric batch to pass over the cutter track 27 without obstruction. Afterthe rolled batch has been received by the trough 28, the cutter ismanually moved to the right and the throat 34 thereof receives the edgeof the fabric to be cut. As the cutter progresses to the right the outerwheels 36 thereof stretch the fabric around the flanges 31,31 so thatthe blade 35 may readily and cleanly cut the fabric. When the cutterreaches the far edge of the fabric, an abutment 39 carried by the cuttercontacts an actuating lever 40 of a microswitch 41 mounted on the righthand clamp 16 to actuate a solenoid valve (not shown) to release an airblast from a pipe 42 to blow the freely severed end of the fabric uponto the newly positioned empty core on the winding rolls 6,6 and tosimultaneously restart the rolls 6 through the clutch 8. Then the cutter32 is returned to its initial position at the left end of the track 27.

In the meantime, a continuously driven draw roll 43. having a peripheralspeed equal to the linear discharge speed of the fabric from theassociated processing unit, keeps feeding the fabric toward the batcher.When the winder rolls 6,6 are stopped the fabric drops into a loop asindicated in dotted lines at 44, and if this loop should become toolarge, the slack may be taken up by temporarily disengaging the clutch 8and engaging the clutch which operates a higher speed drive for therolls 6,6.

It is of course to be understood that variations in arrangement andproportions of parts may be made within the scope of the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. In a fabric batcher, support means; a pair of horizontally disposedspaced parallel winding rolls mounted on the support means; drivingmeans connected to the winding rolls for rotating the same in the samedirection; a core magazine carried by the support means and positionedabove the winding rolls with its discharge end in proximity thereto;means responsive to removal ofa filled fabric batch from the windingrolls for automatically placing the driving means out of. active serviceand stopping the winding rolls; and means associated with the coremagazine and the driving means for causing an empty core to be releasedtherefrom/o'nto the winding rolls each time the driving means isplacedout of active service.

2. The fabric batcher of claim 1 additionally including a trough forreceiving and holding a filled fabric batch after said batch has beenremoved from engagement with said winding rolls, and means interposedbetween said trough and said winding rolls, for severing the fabric webtrailing from said filled fabric batch. v

3. The fabric batcher of claim 2 additionally including airblast meansfor blowing the severed leading edge of the fabric web into engagementover said empty core.

4. The fabric batcher of claim 3 additionally including means to restartsaid winding rolls and to actuate said airblast means each time a fabricweb-severing operation is completed.

5. The fabric batcher of claim 2 in which said fabric-severing meansincludes a transversely extending cutter track and a laterallyreciprocable cutter unit mounted on said track.

6. The fabric batcher of claim 5 additionally including airblast meansfor blowing the severed leading edge of the fabric webinto enagementover said empty core;

7. The abric batcher of claim 6 additionally including means actuated bysaid cutter unit torestart said winding rolls and to actuate saidairblast means each time a fabric web severing operation is completed.

8. The fabric batcher of claim 2 in which said core magazine islaterally adjustable to receive and retain cores having a lengthcommensurate with the width of the fabric web'to be wound intoabatch. w

9. The fabric batcherof claim 7 in which said core magazine is laterallyadjustable toreceive and retain cores having a length commensurate withthe width of the fabric web to be wound into a batch. i v

1. In a fabric batcher, support means; a pair of horizontally disposedspaced parallel winding rolls mounted on the support means; drivingmeans connected to the winding rolls for rotating the same in the samedirection; a core magazine carried by the support means and positionedabove the winding rolls with its discharge end in proximity thereto;means responsive to removal of a filled fabric batch from the windingrolls for automatically placing the driving means out of active serviceand stopping the winding rolls; and means associated with the coremagazine and the driving means for causing an empty core to be releasedtherefrom onto the winding rolls each time the driving means is placedout of active service.
 2. The fabric batcher of claim 1 additionallyincluding a trough for receiving and holding a filled fabric batch aftersaid batch has been removed from engagement with said winding rolls, andmeans interposed between said trough and said winding rolls, forsevering the fabric web trailing from said filled fabric batch.
 3. Thefabric batcher of claim 2 additionally including airblast means forblowing the severed leading edge of the fabric web into engagement oversaid empty core.
 4. The fabric batcher of claim 3 additionally includingmeans to restart said winding rolls and to actuate said airblast meanseach time a fabric web-severing operation is completed.
 5. The fabricbatcher of claim 2 in which said fabric-severing means includes atransversely extending cutter track and a laterally reciprocable cutterunit mounted on said track.
 6. The fabric batcher of claim 5additionally including airblast means for blowing the severed leadingedge of the fabric web into engagement over said empty core.
 7. Thefabric batcher of claim 6 additionally including means actuated by saidcutter unit to restart said winding rolls and to actuate said airblastmeans each time a fabric web severing operation is completed.
 8. Thefabric batcher of claim 2 in which said core magazine is laterallyadjustable to receive and retain cores having a length commensurate withthe width of the fabric web to be wound into a batch.
 9. The fabricbatcher of claim 7 in which said core magazine is laterally adjustableto receive and retain cores having a length commensurate with the widthof the fabric web to be wound into a batch.